Tender bin discharge means



E. MARTIN TENDER BIN DISCHARGE MEANS Dec. 20,` 1949 4 Sheetls-Sheet 1 FiledJuly 5, 1947 INVENTOR.

yDe. 20, 1949 E, MART|N TENDER BIN DISCHARGE MEANS 4 SheetS-Sheet 2 Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR.V

Dec. 20, 1949 E. MARTIN TENDER BIN DISCHARGE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 5.. 1947 lill/lilla INVENTOR. EUGENE FIG. 3

Dec. 20, 1949 E. MARTIN TENDER BIN DISCHARGE MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 5, 1947 INVENTOR. EUGENE MARTIN @Q5/WMM@ Patented Dec. 20194 TENDER BIN DISCHARGE MEANS Eugene Martin, Wesleyville, Pa., assignor to The Standard Stoker Company, Incorporated, a

corporation of Delaware Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,103

Claims.

This invention relates to gravity discharge regulating means for hoppers or bins in which the floor is formed of a plurality of slidable plates arranged to be selectively moved from covering position, and it has particular reference to means of the type described for moving the coal bin slide plate of a, stoker equipped locomotive tender.

In such devices currently in use, it is the practice to pullthe slide plates forward successively from front to back of the tender fuel bin as the front face of the coal pile recedes in the bin. It is customary to replenish the coal supply prior tocomplete depletion of the fuel bin, so that the zone of coal at the rear of the bin is seldom disturbed and therefore rests on the rear slope sheet of the bin for an indefinite length of time. Because of this condition, the sheets against which this dormant mass of coal rests become corroded. requiring frequent removal and replacement.

NAccordlngly, it is an object of this invention to provide an arrangement in a tender whereby the coal will not remain dormant for long periods on the rear slope sheet of the fuel bin. More specifically, the invention contemplates a novel slide plate operating construction which permits opening the slide plates successively from the rear to the front of the fuel bin so that coal is removed from the bln from back to front.

It is apparent that the novel slide plate operating arrangement, whereby the coal is delivered from the bin to the Stoker trough, rst from the rear of the bin and then progressively from the rear to the front of the bin, provides at all times a readily available supply of coal at the front of the tender should the fireman in an emergency be required to manually deliver coal from the bin to the iirebox. This constitutes another important advantage contemplated by the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanical means rendering the slide plates, in the floor of a material gravity discharging bin, more easily and conveniently removable from and to covering position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention reside in the novel construction, combina.- tion and arrangement of parts as will become apparent from the following description when read `in connection with the accompanying drawings,

in which i Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view through the forward end of a tender with the tender unit of a stoker and the novel slide plate operating means applied thereto and shown in elevation with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure shown in Figure l with parts broken away and shown in section;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure shown in Figure l with parts shown in section;

Figure 4 is a half section taken on the line 4-- of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a half section taken on the irregular line 5-5 of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line .f5- of Figure l looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I0 indicates a portion of a locomotive tender having a coal bin II defined by the inclined side walls I2, the rear slope sheet I3 and coal gate I4.

Underlying the floor I5 of the tender I0 is a fuel receiving trough I 6 of a mechanical stoker into which coal may drop by gravity from the bin II through a longitudinally elongated opening I'I, as best shown in Figure 4. 'I'he opening II extends substantially the length of the bottom of the coal bin I I and is adapted to be closed by the longitudinally slidable front plate I8 and a plurality of laterally slidable plates I9, as best shown in Figure 2.

The longitudinally slidable front plate I8 is supported in the guideways 20 and 2l, as best shown in Figure 3, the plates forming the guideways being rigidly secured to the under side of the tender floor I5. The plate I8 is manually operated by inserting a hand hook in the hole `t2 and pulling the plate forwardly bene-ath the floor I5. Since the present invention contemplates the discharge of coal from the bin II to the trough i6, progressively from the rear to the forward end of the bin, the rearmost pair of plates I9 are first moved from covering position. When the coalin the rearmost portion of the bin has been depleted, the next pair of plates I9 are moved from covering position and as the face of the coal pile recedes toward the front of the bin, the plates are successively moved from covering position from rear to front. With coal in the bin II, it is apparent that the plates I9 are not conveniently accessible and novel means, hereinafter described in detail, is provided for successively moving the plates I9 mechanically, to open or closed position.

It will become evident, as the description proceeds, that a pair of mechanically operated plates I9 can be substituted for the manually operated plate I8, however, since in the present arrangement coal is taken progressively from back to front, there is little occasion for moving the front plate, and since it is conveniently accessible it is preferably shown as being manually movable. In addition, should tramp iron or other extraneous materials be lodged between the Crusher (not shown), which is disposed at the front of the trough, and the screw conveyor, causing the stoker to stall, the slide plate I8 can be pulled forwardly beneath the floor I5 independently of the mechanism that operates the plates I9, making the crushing zone of the trough I6 accessible for removing the obstructing object.

The trough I6, the slide plates therefor, and the mechanism for operating the slide plates are mounted in compartment 23 beneath the floor I5 of the bin II, the sides of the compartment 23 being formed by the longitudinally extending vertical side plates 24 and 25.

Secured to the plates 24 and 25 are a plurality of inwardly extending brackets 26 arranged to form a support for the slide plate operating means and the slide plates I9 themselves. Seated on the brackets 26 and extending longitudinally of the compartment 23 are the U-shaped channels 2'I and 28, located one on each side of and adjacent the upper end of the trough I6. The forward ends of the channels 2'I and 28 have their upright side walls cut away to form the platelike extensions 29 and 30, as best shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Referring to Figures 1 and 4, a pair of U-shaped channels 3| and 32 are secured, as by welding, one on each of the upstanding walls of the channel 2l. The channels 3| and 32 are arranged with their open ends facing each other to form a housing 33 superimposed on and communicating with a housing 34 formed by the channel 21. A similar arrangement of housings and channels is supported on the brackets 26 at the other side of the trough I6.

Mounted on the plate-like extensions 29 and 30 of the'channels 2'I and 28 are the gear housings 3'I and 38, respectively. Al rotatable shaft 39 extending transversely of the tender beneath the oor I5 and forward of the trough I6 is journaled at one side in the spaced bearings 40 and 4I, preferably formed with the rearward end of the gear housing 3'I, and at the other side in similar bearings formed with the gear housing 38, as best shown in Figures 2 and 6. Referring to Figures 1 and 5, a transverse shaft 42 is journaled in the spaced bearings 43 and 44 within the rearward end of the channels 2'I, 3| and 32. A sprocket 45, see Figures 2 and 6, is rigidly secured to the shaft 39 between the bearings 4I) and 4|, and a sprocket 46 is mounted on the shaft 42 between the bearings 43 and 44. A sprocket chain 4l is trained around the sprockets 45 and 46, the upper run of the chain 4l extending through the housing 33 and the lower run of the chain 4'I extending through the housing 34. While the above mechanism has been described and is shown in most of the drawings as applied to one side of the trough I6, it will be understood that a similar arrangement is provided on the opposite side of the trough I6 as shown in Figure 6, and for simplicity the similar parts are designated by similar reference characters.

Interposed in the upper run of the chain 4I is a gear cage 48 in which is rotatably mounted a gear 49. The gear cage 48 is horizontally split into an upper and a lower half as best shown in Figure 4. In order to assemble the gear cage 48 and gear 49, the upper and lower halves of the cage 46 are separated, the gear 49 is inserted and the two halves of the cage 48 are then secured together by suitable means, as by screws 50. Figure 2 shows the lower half of the gear cage 48 with the gear 49 mounted therein and Figure 6 shows the upper half of the gear cage 48 with the gear 49 mounted therein. The gear cage 48, as best shown in Figure 4 is arranged to slide forward and backward in the housing 33 formed by the spaced channels 3| and 32, movement being imparted thereto through the sprocket 45 and sprocket chain 4l by turning the shaft 39 in one direction or the other. A similar arrangement is provided on the opposite side of the trough I6 as shown in Figure 6, and for simplicity the similar parts are designated by similar reference characters.

In addition to being movable in a forward and rearward direction, the gear 49 is also rotatable, as previously pointed out. The means for rotating the gear 49 includes a polygonal Shaft 5| extending longitudinally through the housing 33 formed by the channels 3| and 32 and projecting through a polygonal bore 52 in the gear 49. The gear 49 is thus slidable along the shaft 5| but rotatable with it. At its rearward end, the shaft 5| is journaled in the bearing 44, and at its forward end is `iournaled in the bearing 4I, extending therethrough into the gear housing 31. A similar arrangement of parts is provided on the shaft 53 at the other side of the trough I6 as shown in Figure 6, and for simplicity the similar parts are designated by similar reference characters.

Referring particularly to Figure 3, bevel gears 54 and 55 are mounted on the forward ends of shafts 5I and 53, respectively, within the respective gear housings 3l and 38. The bevel gears 54 and 55 mesh with the bevel gears 56 and 51, respectively, mounted on the transversely extending shaft 58, the shaft 58 being journaled in bearing 59, 68, and 6|, 62, preferably formed integral with the gear housings 31 and 38, respectively. Rotation of shaft 58 is thus transmitted through the described gearing to the shafts 5| and 53.

The shaft 33, which is operatively connected with the gears 49 for moving the latter forward or backward as explained above, is itself conveniently operated by turning a handwheel 63 located to be readily accessible for manual operation. As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the handwheel 63 is secured on a shaft 64 journaled in a bracket 65 which is attached to a side wall 66 of the bunker 67. Secured on extensions of the shafts 33 and 64 are the sprockets 68 and 69, respectively, about which is trained a sprocket chain 78. It evident, then, that by turning the handwheel 63 in a clockwise direction, the gears 49 will be ymoved in a forward direction, and by turning the handwheel 63 in a counterclockwise direction, the gears 49 will be moved in a rearward direction.

The shaft 58, which as previously explained, is operatively connected with the gears 49 for imparting rotation thereto, is itself operated manually by a lever il, conveniently located at the forward end of the tender, preferably close to the handwheel 63 as best shown in Figure 3. The lever II is freely mounted at its lower end on an extension of the shaft 58 and is provided with a pivotally mounted dog 'I2 arranged t0 engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 13 which is rigidly secured on the shaft 58. With the dos `112 in the position shown in Figure 1, pulling the lever 1I forward will cause the gear 49 on the right side fof the tender to rotate in a counterelockwisedirection, when viewed from the front of the tender. Pushing the lever 1I backward `causes the dog 12 to ride over the teeth of the `ratchet wheel 13, so that with the dog 12 as shown in Figure 1, the rotation of the gear 49 fe;

will be` unidirectional.` To reverse the direction of ,rotation of the gear 49, it is only necessary to nlp the dog 12 over. It is apparent that operation of the lever 1I also operates the gear 49 `on the left side of the tender, however, it is arranged to rotate in a direction opposite the direction ofrotationof gear 49 on the right side of the tender. e

The slide plates I9, which are operatively connectedwith the gears 49 in a manner hereinafter described, are supported in slideways 14 formed by the laterally extending longitudinally spaced `inverted T-shaped guide plates 15 which are secured in any suitable manner, as by welding, to the channels 3| and 32, and the longitudinally extending plates 16. `The inverted T-shaped guide plates 15 are each provided with a bottom recess 11, as shown in Figure 4, to permit longitudinal movement of the gears 49 past the guide plates 15.

Each of the` slide plates I9 is provided with a pair of depending, transversely extending, spaced ribs, a front rib 18 and a rear rib 19. On the underside of each slide plate I9 between the front rib` 1l and rear rib 19 is a rack number B0 arranged for engagement with the gear 49.

Referring particularly to Figures 4 and 6, the rear rieb` 19 of the slide plate I9 is provided with a recess 8|which is so located to permit passage therethrough of the gear 49 when the slide plate I9 is in its closed position. The front rib 19, in the same position of the slide plate I9 forms a stop for the gear 49, in which position of the gear 49 it will engage the rack number 80. When the gear 49 on the right side of the tender is now rotated in a clockwise direction, when viewed from the front of the tender, it will by reason of its engagement with the rack member 80 move the slide plate I9 to its open position. The front rib 18 is provided with a recess 82 which, in the open position `of the slide plate I9, will permit passageA ofthe gear 49 therethrough, whence it can be moved forward to engage the next slide plate. `It is understood, of course, that all the slide plates I9 are similarly constructed and similarly operated.

For the purpose of describing the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that the bin II is filled with coal, the slide plates I9 all closed and the gears 49 in mesh with the racks 9U of the rearmost pair of slide plates I9. The operator works the lever 1I which, with the dog 12 in the position shown in Figure 1, will turn the gears 49 in a direction, as previously described, to open the rearmost pair of slide plates I9.

When the coal in the rearmost portion of the bin II has been depleted, the operator turns the handwheel 63` in a clockwise direction, the gears lever 1I. As the coal in the bln becomes depleted, this procedure is repeated until all the slide plates `have been opened.

In order to close the slide plates, the same procedure is followed, except that the dog 12 is now flipped over to the opposite side of the lever l I, in which position it will elect rearward move ment of the gears 49 upon manipulation of the lever 1I. The gears 49 can then be made to successively engage the racks 80 of one pair of slide plates I9 after the other from front to rear, the successive pairs of slide plates being closed by turning the handwheel 63 in a counterclockwise direction.

I claim:

1. Means for controlling the flow of fuel from a tender fuel bin having a bottom outlet, comprising a `plurality of shiftable` plates adapted in one position to form a closure for said bottom outlet, mechanism for successively shifting said plates in rear front sequence to form a discharge opening the front marginal edge of which progressively moves forward as successive plates are shifted, said mechanism including a plate shifting member, means for actuating said member, means associated with said plates adapted for engagement with said member for shifting said plates upon actuation of said member, and means for moving said member forward in successive operative relation with said plates.

2. Means for controlling the flow of fuel from a tender fuel bin having a bottom outlet, comprising a plurality of divided plates with complementary plate sections shiftable laterally toward and away from each other to close and open said bottom outlet, mechanism `for successively shifting each pair of complementary plate sections away from each other in rear `to front sequence `and toward each other in reverse sequence, said mechanism including a pair of plate section shifting members, means for actuating l said members, means associated with said plate sections adapted for engagement with said members for shifting said plate sections upon actuation of said members, and means for moving said shifting members forward and rearward in successive operative relation respectively with each pair of complementary plate sections.

3. Means forcontrolling the ow `of fuel from a tender fuel bin having a bottom outlet, comprising a plurality of i laterally shiftable plates adapted in one position to form a closure for said bottom outlet, mechanism forsuccessively shifting said pl-ates in rear to front sequence to form a discharge opening the front marginal edge of which progressively moves forward as successive plates are shifted, said mechanism including a rotatable shaft, a plate shifting member mounted for rotation with said shaft, means associated with said plates adapted for engagement with said member `for shifting said plates upon rotation of said member, means for moving said member along said shaft in successive operative relation with said plates, and means for actuating said last named means and said shaft.

4; Means for controlling the flow of fuel from a tender fuel bin having a bottom outlet, comprising a plurality of shiftable plates adapted in l one position to form a closure for said bottom Awami? tion .said means associfi-.ted withisaisi znlateslesiantcd :for ensaeementmitn said member for shifting Said ,plates unen rotation lof :said chain :and :sprocket z sans :for .moving said member along .said .shaft 1n successive-.operative :relation with 4.sa-id plates, ,and .means lfor ractuat.ine.said :shaft Land ,said .chain andfsorocket emans .15, Meansfor controlling vthe :flow of fuel from la i...r1.der :fuel bin -.liajvi,r1.g a bottom o utlet, cornsnr-.islng 1 a .plurality 4 of .shiftable plates adapted in one position to form ia closure gforsaid :bottom :'Qutlet, mechanism .for successively shitting said plates in rear to front sequence to form .a .discharge opening the front marginal edgelof .which progressively `moves forward .las successive plates Aare shifted, said ,mechanism .including a rack .member for each of said plates, .la longitudinally ,extending rotatable shaft, a 'pinion .mounted for .rotation with Asaid shaft, `adapted for engagement with a. respective rack member for shifting a respective platechain and r.sprocket means for lmoving said pinion alonglsaid shaft for successively engaging the rackk member ,of teach plate, and `means .for .actuating said shaft and said'chain and sprocket means. Y

f6. lMeans .for controllingthe flow of .fuel` .from a .tenderfuel .-bin yhaving a bottom =outlet, .com fprising a plurality of divided plates with com.- plementary t.plate sections shiftable laterally Ito- :ward and -away from Yeach 4other to close Aand open said Lbottom outlet, mechanism ffor -successively shifting leach pair of Acomplementary plate sections away from each other `rin rear `to front sequence and toward )each other in rever-se se quence, said mechanism including a llongitudinally'extendi-ng `rotatable shaft ibelow each side of said bin, a plate section shifting 'member mounted `for rotation'with each of said shafts, vmeans Aassociated withsaid plate sections adapted for .engagement with said member .for shifting said plate sections =upon Vrotation Iof said member, chain andsproclret means ferr-moving `each-of-said members along said shaft .in successive operative vrelation respectively with each pair `of complementary plate sections, and -means for actuating said shafts ,and -said chain :and sprocket means.

7. Means for controlling Athe Yflowof fuel from a itender fuel .-bin :having .a bottom outlet, .oomprisma-eJ :plurality lof -shiftable plates `adapted in one .position l'to form a closure .for said bottom outlet, mechanism for :successively .shifting said plates *in lrear to front sequence to form a discharge .opening .the efront marginal .edge of .which progressively moves forward as successive plates are shifted, a `housing for said mechanism, `said mechanism including a rotatable shaft mounted in said housinga plateshifting member mounted for rotation with said shaft, ,means .associated with said plates adapted Vfor engagement with said fmember for shifting said plates :upon rotation `of said .fnember, chain and sprocket means mounted `in said housing for moving said fmem.- ber ,along said shaft in successive operative relation with said gplaites, said housing fand gmechanism v being i-nsertable as an assembled unit through v:the :forward end of the atender. and means -foractuating saidshaft and Asaid chain and sprocket means.

i8.- Means for controlling thc-.flow of vfuel Ifrom said pinion 'being il Cil a ,tender .fuel ibin having a bottom outlet, .-.oom n ine a'nlurelity offsniftable'plates adapted ein .one position to `form .a closure Afor .said .bottom outlet, mechanism for ,successively .shifting said .plates ,in rear to front sequence .to lform a .djscharge opening vthe front marginaliedge of which progressively moves Vforward as successiveiplates :are shifted, said `mechanism lincluding a :pl-ate shiftingmember, means 'for actuating said mem ber, ,means associated .with said plates .adapted for engagement with said `member :for shifting x.said plates .upon actuation of said .member,-.means Yfor moving said member forward in successive operative relation with said plates, and stops associated with saidplates sto definitely -limit the forward movementof said member.

9. Means 4for controlling the -floW of fuel from a tender fuel bin having Ia bottom outlet, com'- vprising a plurality of divided plates with complementary :plate sections shiftable laterally itc- :ward and vaway from each other to :close and open said bottom outlet, mechanism for successively shifting each pair of complementary plate sections away from :each other in rear to front sequence and toward each other in reversefsequence, said mechanism including Aa-pair vof plate section shifting members, lmea-ns -for actuating said `members, means associated with said plate sections adapted for engagement with lsaldi-men;- bers for shifting said plate sections upon ac tuation of said members, means Vfor moving said shifting members forward 4in successive operative relation and rearward -in successive operative relation with each Vpair of complementary plate sections, and stops associated withsaidplate sections to denitely'limt the forward andrearward movement of said members.

10. Means for controlling the ,flow of fuel from a tender vfuel bin having a bottom outlet, come prising-a plurality `of shiftable plates adaptedin one position ,to form a closure for sa'id bottom outlet, mechanism for successively shifting said plates in rear to front sequence to form a discharge opening the lfront marginal edge o f which progressively moves forward as successive plates are shifted, said ,mechanism including ,a rmcl member for each of .said plates@longitudinally extending rotatable shaft, a pinonniounted for rotation with .Said shaft, seid .pinion :being adapted Yfor engagement with c .respective .rack .memberfcr shifting a respective ,Dlatechainand sprocket Ymeans for .moving .said Apinion .alone Seid shaft .for .successively .engaging the rack member .of each plate, means lfor actuatinesaid shaft and said chain and sprocket means, ,and .Stops associated withsaid rackstodennitelv .limit the forward movement .of vsaid pinion- .EUGENE :MARTEN- REFER'ENCES CITED The following 4references are `of record in :the ijle of this patent:

'UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name iDate .66.9 8F76 -Critchlow c---" 'Mar l2, 1901 182.92?? Saling Feb. l2-1, -1905 v1.810.189 Anderson Aug, 2, n1932 r2.1144511165 Selleck dan. 17, -1939 -2;3 l4,040 Hoke Mar. 14, 

